DIY Colorbond raised garden bed (forum)

Elissa starts with ...
Hi,
I have a small Sydney backyard, all paved, & am thinking about putting in two Colorbond raised garden beds. Currently using large plastic pots & not getting enough yeild for the effort. The colorbond beds in the shops are at least $200 each which is a bit steep + having to fill them, so I went to our local Hardware & General store. They quoted me $120 for two sheets of reinforced Colorbond bullnosed. The guy said that the factory use stronger metal for the bullnose sheets. I am planing to get Hubby to cut each one in half with a nibbler, then joining the ends together to make an oblong shape. the sharp edges will be ground down (red oxide the the cut edges to prevent rust). on the top I'll put PVC piping sliced down the middle, prob the small black sprinkler piping. I was also thinking about lining the inside with black builders plastic to help reduce corrosion, as i've heard that over time the colorbond will rust as it's in contact with the moist soil. So for two 2m long, 70cm deep & approx 45cm high it will be $120 in any colour I like, not too bad.
Has anyone got any comments on the way I'm thinking of doing it? All just ideas at the moment, any suggetsions on how to do it better are warmly welcome.
I'll fill them via the no dig garden idea, with a good 20cm of premimum garden soil & mulch.
Thanks

Time: 7th January 2011 10:19am

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Original Post was last edited: 7th January 2011 11:44am

About the Author Elissa
Sydney
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ringelstrumpf says...
If the place is yours, then I simply would rip out some of the paving (you might even sell the pavers or out them on freecycle that someone picks them up). The sand what's underneath I would dig out. You could then buy some soil or create your own.
If it's not yours you could get some old water tanks and cut them in two. Old bathtubs seem to work as well, if you like the appearance.
Your idea seems feasible to me, however I wouldn't put pvc pipes (I think it is to soften the sharp edges) on top, because the look might not be so great, I think you get something round in metal as well.
I wouldn't put sprinklers in, a small garden like this is watered quickly.
Another very nice option is to lay bricks in mortar.

Time: 7th January 2011 12:58pm

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About the Author ringelstrumpf1
Blue Mountains
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Lynne says...
I have recently made 2 raised beds, with the help of hubs of course.All up cost was around $60 each to make up without the soil.I made them into wicking beds and so far they are going great.Photos are showing how they were constructed and of the finished bed.


Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1
Picture: 2

Time: 21st March 2011 4:38pm

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About the Author Lynne9
Goonellabah, NSW
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Brendan says...
Hi Lynne,
So there's no drainage holes in the plastic at all?
Is that mulch in pic 1? Is there soil/compost underneath?

Time: 22nd March 2011 8:53am

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About the Author Brendan
Mackay, Q
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Lynne says...
Hi Brendan,
No, the plastic acts as a reservoir that holds the water , think of it as a big self watering pot and it's watered by the filler tube and of course whatever rain you may get. Pic 1 shows the finished bed,the layers in the bed are old magazines, weedmat, builders plastic liner, ag pipe wrapped in weedmat, layer of sand to cover ag pipe, weedmat to separate sand and soil, a small drainage setup to allow for overflow, soil , and I finished mine with cane mulch. I got the idea after reading a blog that has pics of each step in his setup ,I didnt take enough of mine so if it sounds a bit disjointed have a look at his blog here, lots of pics and good ideas.
http://bitsouttheback.blogspot.com/2010_08_01_archive.html
scroll down to the bottom to find the wicking bed setup.
And if you want to see my garden and how it has evolved you can see it here.
http://lymasc.blogspot.com/
Hope that explains it a bit better for you Brendan.


Time: 22nd March 2011 7:07pm

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About the Author Lynne9
Goonellabah, NSW
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Brendan says...
Hello Lynne,
Good blog, you've done well! :-)

Time: 23rd March 2011 10:02am

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About the Author Brendan
Mackay, Q
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Lynne says...
Glad you like it Brendan ,the wicking beds sound complicated in the set up but they arent really.

Time: 23rd March 2011 8:31pm

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About the Author Lynne9
Goonellabah, NSW
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